Jeremiah 39 — Hebrew and Greek compared
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Chapter 39
Jerusalem falls; Jeremiah and Ebed-melech are spared
Hebrew source: BHS39 • chapter 39
Greek source: LXX46 • chapter 46
Verse 39:1 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:1] In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his whole army came against Jerusalem and besieged it.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[46:1] In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his whole force arrived against Jerusalem and besieged it.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The dating and siege correspond; the preceding Hebrew introductory capture clause is already translated at38:28.
Verse 39:2 Same
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:2] In Zedekiah's eleventh year, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the city was breached.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[46:2] In Zedekiah's eleventh year, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the city was breached.
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: Both preserve the same regnal and monthly dates without imposing a modern calendar conversion.
Verse 39:3 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:3] All Babylon's king's officials entered and sat at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sar-sechim the chief court officer, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the other officials of Babylon's king.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[46:3] All Babylon's king's commanders entered and sat at the Middle Gate: Nargalasar, Samagoth, Nabousachar, Nabousaris, Nagargasnaser Rabamag, and the remaining commanders of Babylon's king.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: The segmentation of Babylonian names and titles in the Hebrew is difficult; this provisional rendering follows the displayed divisions, rather than claiming an epigraphic reconstruction. Greek's differently segmented list is preserved. Rab-mag/Rabamag is retained as a title of uncertain exact function here; no fake name-equivalence is imposed.
Verse 39:4 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:4] When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the fighting men saw them, they fled by night out of the city by way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls. He went toward the Arabah.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek jumps from46:3 to46:14, lacking Hebrew39:4–13. Hebrew shifts from plural escapees to singular he; Arabah is the named valley region.
Verse 39:5 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:5] The Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in Jericho's plains. They captured him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in Hamath's land, and he pronounced judgment upon him.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew-only section in this selected Greek chapter; no parallel from another biblical account is inserted.
Verse 39:6 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:6] Babylon's king slaughtered Zedekiah's sons at Riblah before his eyes. Babylon's king also slaughtered all Judah's nobles.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: The repeated royal subject and the violence of the Hebrew account are retained.
Verse 39:7 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:7] He blinded Zedekiah's eyes and bound him in bronze fetters to bring him to Babylon.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew-only account of blinding and deportation; bronze fetters renders the dual bronze term contextually.
Verse 39:8 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:8] The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the people's houses with fire and tore down Jerusalem's walls.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew house-of-the-people is collective here; the translation does not insert the temple, which is not named in this verse.
Verse 39:9 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:9] Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, deported to Babylon the people remaining in the city, the defectors who had gone over to him, and the rest of the remaining people.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: The Hebrew repeated remainder wording is retained. Captain of the guard renders rab-tabbahim, literally chief of slaughterers, as the royal military office in context.
Verse 39:10 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:10] Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, left some of the poorest people, who owned nothing, in Judah's land and gave them vineyards and fields that day.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew yogebim is a rare agricultural term, provisionally fields here; the redistribution to the landless is explicit.
Verse 39:11 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:11] Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, orders concerning Jeremiah:
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew-only instruction introduction.
Verse 39:12 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:12] Take him, look after him, and do him no harm. Do for him whatever he tells you.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Set-your-eyes-upon-him is rendered look-after-him. The displayed unvocalized im has no separate conditional English clause here; no marginal apparatus reading is claimed.
Verse 39:13 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:13] Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, Nebushazban the chief court officer, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all Babylon's king's senior officers sent men.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[—] [No corresponding passage in the selected Greek text.]
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Hebrew-only officer list. Men is supplied as the implicit object of sending, continued by the repeated sending in the next verse; uncertain title Rab-mag remains untranslated.
Verse 39:14 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:14] They sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the guard and handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, to bring him to the house. He lived among the people.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[46:14] They sent and took Jeremiah from the prison court and handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan. They brought him out, and he lived among the people.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek resumes here after the long omission and lacks to-the-house. Hebrew's house is not explicitly identified as Jeremiah's own; no ownership is invented.
Verse 39:15 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:15] YHWH's word had come to Jeremiah while he was confined in the court of the guard:
Greek–English Saints Priority
[46:15] The Lord's word came to Jeremiah in the prison court:
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek lacks the explicit while-confined construction; the narrative recalls the earlier promise.
Verse 39:16 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:16] Go and tell Ebed-melech the Cushite, Thus says YHWH of hosts, Israel's God: I am bringing My words upon this city for disaster, not good. They will come to pass before you that day.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[46:16] Go and tell Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, Thus said the Lord, Israel's God: I am bringing My words upon this city for calamity, not good.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek lacks of-hosts and the final before-you/that-day clause. Ethnonyms are ancient designations, as noted at38:7.
Verse 39:17 Divergent
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:17] But I will rescue you that day—YHWH's declaration. You will not be handed over to the men you fear.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[46:17] I will save you that day and certainly will not hand you over to the men you fear.
Classification & Notes
Divergent. Text: Greek makes God the explicit handing-over agent rather than using the passive and lacks the internal declaration formula.
Verse 39:18 Different
Hebrew–English Rabbinic Priority
[39:18] I will certainly deliver you. You will not fall by the sword; your life will be your spoil because you trusted in Me—YHWH's declaration.
Greek–English Saints Priority
[46:18] I will certainly save you. You certainly will not fall by the sword; your life will be your gain because you trusted in Me, says the Lord.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Greek gain/thing-found differs from Hebrew spoil, as at38:2. Both explicitly ground the assurance in trust in God.